Eat Your Way Out of the Winter Doldrums

Eating your way to happiness doesn't mean what you think it does. Click on the slideshow to find out which foods can boost your mood and help pull you out of the winter doldrums.

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Dark Chocolate

Chocolate may be your pick-me-up food of choice but it's dark chocolate that makes magic happen. According to reports, dark chocolate has the ability over time to make you think more clearly, reduce anxiety and help you look younger. As if you needed an excuse.

Eliminate energy crashes with quinoa which offers a steady stream of energy as your body digests the complex carbohydrate.

Photo: Flickr, Photography by Paula Thomas

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Dark Leafy Greens

Kale, spinach and other dark leafy greens are high in magnesium, which means they help maintain energy levels in your body. According to reports, one study found lower levels of magnesium in cases with higher scores of depression.

Photo: Donald Erickson

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Walnuts

Eating one ounce of walnuts a day may boost your brain's production of serotonin, which helps make you happy and calm, according to reports.

Photo: Pete Ridge

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Calcium

Greek yogurt is high in calcium, which helps your brain know when to release neurotransmitters and feel good.

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Asparagus

According to reports, researches found that nearly half of people suffering from depression have low levels of folate, which is found in asparagus.

Winter takes its toll this time of year when reveling in the beauty of powdery snow and snow days is replaced by yearning for longer days and warmer weather. If the winter doldrums caught up with you, try making some easy changes to your diet that will have you feeling better in no time.